2017 Lincoln Continental

4.03.2017

by MotorWeek Staff

For 2017, the Lincoln Motor Company unleashes an all-new, flagship, the Continental sedan. It is clearly an imposing four-door unlike anything from the brand since at least the 1990s. But, you’d have to go back much further to find a Lincoln truly worthy of the Continental name.

There’s a trio of V6 engines to choose from, starting with a 305-horsepower naturally-aspirated 3.7-liter. Next step up is a 380-horsepower 2.7-liter EcoBoost. Both of those engines come with front-wheel-drive, with all-wheel-drive available. Top tier is a 3.0-liter EcoBoost with all-wheel-drive only. Output here is 400-horsepower, and all powertrains work through a 6-speed automatic transmission.

This Continental by no means pretends to be a sport sedan. But, it’s sportier than it probably needs to be for target buyers. More importantly for them, the ride quality is exquisite; with continuously controlled damping it levitates down the highway like a modern luxury sedan should. There is Lincoln Drive Control with multiple driving modes; but if you chose anything other than comfort, you’re kind of missing the point of the car.

That is to provide a modern definition of American luxury, no doubt. That includes a wide open interior. The front seats offer a wealth of adjustments and are supremely comfortable. In the rear, seats feel cozier with adjustments of their own.

Lincoln has done a great job of integrating technology throughout, with plenty of real controls remaining. Indeed, the interior is leaps and bounds above any Lincoln in recent memory.

Instrument panel and door treatments are quite nice to both the eyes and touch.

Outside, the new Continental presents itself with a highly styled, if slightly throwback, grille and front facia. Down the sides it is sleek and posh, with just enough of a 60’s Lincoln vibe to go along with the modern Bentleyish presentation.

For our complete track test of the 2017 Lincoln Continental, be sure to catch MotorWeek episode #3632 that begins airing on April 14, 2017. For a listing of the public television stations that broadcast MotorWeek, go to motorweek.org and click the “About The Show” tab at the top. MotorWeek is also seen Tuesday evenings on the Velocity cable network.

The 2017 Lincoln Continental sedan is very well-conceived and executed. It is unmistakably a revival of classic Lincoln values, but with a major dose of modern driving attributes. It is a fresh luxury sedan contender not to be overlooked.